Hinged board for stairs

ABSTRACT

A hinged board for stairs includes an elongate board configured to be abutted and placed on a nosing of the stairs, and a hinge including a first hinge plate and a second hinge plate. The first hinge plate is configured to be secured to a sidewall the stairs. 
     The second hinge plate is configured to be secured to an end portion of the board. The first hinge plate and the second hinge plate are connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other. The board is configured to be securely leaned against the sidewall of the stairs.

The present application is based on Japanese utility model application No. 2012-2367 filed on Apr. 3, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a hinged board (or a board with a hinge) for stairs.

2. Description of the Related Art

JP-A-2010-185266 discloses a stair apparatus that stairs are each composed of a first member and a second member so as to make an inclined surface by displacing the first member. In operation, the first member is parallel displaced by being rotated about a hinge attached near the center of a riser or by being enclosed in the second member. Also, the inclined surface can be made by changing the inclination of an entire going about a hinge disposed at the front end of the going.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The stair apparatus disclosed in JP-A-2010-1852636 has the next problem. Since the stairs are each composed of the first member and the second member and the inclined surface is made by displacing the first member of each stair, it is necessary for all the stairs to be displaced as mentioned above so as to continuously forming the inclined surface on the stairs. Thus, it is not simple for an operator thereof to displace a part of each stair so as to continuously make the inclined surface on the stairs.

It is an object of the invention to provide a hinged board for stairs that the inclined surface can be made continuously on the stairs by a simple operation.

(1) According to one embodiment of the invention, a hinged board for stairs comprises:

-   -   an elongate board configured to be abutted and placed on a         nosing of the stairs; and     -   a hinge comprising a first hinge plate and a second hinge plate,     -   wherein the first hinge plate is configured to be secured to a         sidewall the stairs,     -   wherein the second hinge plate is configured to be secured to an         end portion of the board,     -   wherein the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate are         connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each         other, and     -   wherein the board is configured to be securely leaned against         the sidewall of the stairs.

In the above embodiment of the invention, the following modifications and changes can be made.

-   -   (i) The board is configured to be placed on one side of the         stairs in a lateral direction of the stairs.     -   (ii) The board comprises a punched plate with a plurality of         holes formed therein.     -   (iii) The holes of the punched plate are formed only in a region         not contacting with the nosing of the stairs.     -   (iv) The board is configured to be securely leaned against the         sidewall of the stairs by a fixing tool attached to the         sidewall.     -   (v) The board comprises a rib at both ends in a lateral         direction thereof formed by bending.     -   (vi) The board comprises a tapered portion at both ends in a         longitudinal direction thereof.     -   (vii) The board comprises a flat steel pressed by pressing.     -   (viii) The holes of the punched plate comprise a through-hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments according to the invention will be explained below referring to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view showing a hinged board for stairs in an embodiment according to the invention, wherein the stairs furnished with the hinged board are laterally projected and the hinged board for stairs is leaned against a sidewall of the stairs;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the hinged board for stairs, wherein the stairs furnished with the hinged board are laterally projected and the hinged board for stairs is rotated about a hinge and abutted on the nosing of the stairs so as to continuously form the inclined surface on the stairs;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the hinged board for stairs, wherein the stairs are viewed in a direction of A in FIG. 2 and the hinged board for stairs is rotated about the hinge;

FIG. 4A is a plain view showing the hinged board for stairs, wherein rectangular hole forming regions are each defined by dotted lines and holes are formed at a predetermined pitch in each of the regions by punching, and the hole forming regions are formed corresponding to the interval (or distance) between one nosing and the next nosing (or the pitch of nosing) of the stairs;

FIG. 4B is a side view showing the hinged board for stairs, wherein the board is viewed in a direction of B in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is an enlarged diagram showing a part C (i.e., a part of the hole forming region enclosed by two-dot chain lines) in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view cut along a line D-D in FIG. 4A, wherein the holes are omitted;

FIG. 6A is a front view showing a hinge for the hinged board for stairs;

FIG. 6B is a right side view showing the hinge in FIG. 6A, wherein the hinge is attached to the board and the sidewall of the stairs;

FIG. 7A is a front view showing a fixing tool for the hinged board for stairs;

FIG. 7B is a top view showing the fixing tool secured to the sidewall, wherein the hinged board for stairs is engaged between the fixing tool and the sidewall;

FIG. 8 is a photograph showing the hinged board for stairs with the hole forming regions formed by punching before being pressed at both ends;

FIG. 9 is a photograph showing the hinged board for stairs engaged between the fixing tool and the sidewall of the stairs; and

FIG. 10 is a photograph showing the hinged board for stairs abutted on the nosing of the stairs so as to continuously form the inclined surface (or slope) on the stairs, wherein the engagement of the fixing tool is released and a shopping cart is carried on the inclined surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments

The preferred embodiments according to the invention will be explained below referring to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a top view showing a hinged board for stairs in an embodiment according to the invention, wherein the stairs furnished with the hinged board are laterally projected and the hinged board for stairs is leaned against a sidewall of the stairs. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the hinged board for stairs, wherein the stairs furnished with the hinged board are laterally projected and the hinged board for stairs is rotated about a hinge and abutted on the nosing of the stairs so as to continuously form the inclined surface on the stairs. FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the hinged board for stairs, wherein the stairs are viewed in a direction of A in FIG. 2 and the hinged board for stairs is rotated about the hinge;

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the stairs 10 are each composed of a going 11 which is a horizontal part of the stairs for being stepped by foot and a riser 12 which is a vertical part of the stairs. The stairs have a predetermined number of steps which are continuously disposed. The going 11 allows a user to rise or descend by walking thereon.

The front end portion of the going 11 for being stepped is called a nosing 13 which is a convex connection part between the riser and the adjacent going connected to the riser.

The hinged board for stairs 100 is comprised of an elongate board 110 and hinges 120. The board 110 can be disposed and abutted on the plural nosing 13 of the stairs 10. The hinges 120 is comprised of a first hinge plate 121 which is secured to the sidewall 14 of the stairs 10 through a mounting plate 130, and a second hinge plate 122 which is attached to a rib portion 110D. The first and second hinge plates 121 and 122 are connected to each other such that they are rotatable about a rotation center part 123.

FIG. 4A is a plain view showing the hinged board for stairs, wherein rectangular hole forming regions are each defined by dotted lines and holes are formed at a predetermined pitch in each of the regions by punching, and the hole forming regions are formed corresponding to the interval (or distance) between one nosing and the next nosing (or the pitch of nosing) of the stairs. FIG. 4B is a side view showing the hinged board for stairs, wherein the board is viewed in a direction of B in FIG. 4A. FIG. 4C is an enlarged diagram showing a part C (i.e., a part of the hole forming region enclosed by two-dot chain lines) in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view cut along a line D-D in FIG. 4A, wherein the holes are omitted.

The board 110 is a punched plate with plural holes formed therein. For example, it is formed of an elongate flat steel with a thickness of 3 mm. The board 110 has rib portions 110D, 110D which are formed at elongate both ends in the lateral direction by bending. Thereby, it can secure bending sufficient rigidity and strength.

Also, the board 110 has tapered portions 110C, 110C which are tapered at elongate both ends in the longitudinal direction. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, a difference in height from floors 200A, 200B can be reduced when the board 110 is placed on the stairs 10.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a flat portion can be used as a slope (or inclined surface) by being placed on the stairs 10 such that it allows users to walk thereon and them to carry a shopping cart thereon. A hole forming region 111 shown in FIG. 4A has plural holes 110E shown in FIG. 4C. For example, the holes 110E may be a through-hole of 5 mm in diameter and 8 mm in pitch which is made by pressing (or punching). Thereby, the board 110 can minimize a reduction in rigidity and strength while being reduced in weight.

Other region than the hole forming regions shown in FIG. 4A does not have any hole. Alternatively, the holes may be formed in the entire surface of the flat portion.

FIG. 8 is a photograph showing the hinged board for stairs with the hole forming regions formed by punching before being pressed at both ends in the lateral direction. In the present embodiment, the board 110 is provided as a punched plate that has the hole forming regions 111 with the holes 110E only in the region being not abutted on the nosing 13 of the stairs 10. Thus, a region 110A without the holes 110E can be abutted on the nosing 13 of the stairs 10. Thereby, a sufficient bending rigidity can be secured at the nosing 13 of the stairs 10.

FIG. 6A is a front view showing a hinge for the hinged board for stairs. FIG. 6B is a right side view showing the hinge in FIG. 6A, wherein the hinge is attached to the board and the sidewall of the stairs.

The hinge 120 is constructed such that the first and second hinge plates 121 and 122 are connected through the rotation center part 123 so as to be rotatable about the rotation center part 123 relative to each other.

FIG. 7A is a front view showing a fixing tool for the hinged board for stairs. FIG. 7B is a top view showing the fixing tool secured to the sidewall, wherein the hinged board for stairs is engaged between the fixing tool and the sidewall.

The fixing tool 140 has a body 141 which is secured through bolts 14A to the sidewall 14 of the stairs 10. An engaging plate 143 is attached to one end of the body 141 so as to be rotatable about a rotation center part 142.

As shown in FIG. 7A, a tip portion 143A of the engaging plate 143 is engaged with the board 110 such that the board 110 can be kept being leaned against the sidewall 14 of the stairs 10 as shown in FIG. 1.

Operation of the Hinged Board for Stairs 100

FIG. 9 is a photograph showing the hinged board for stairs engaged between the fixing tool and the sidewall of the stairs. FIG. 10 is a photograph showing the hinged board for stairs abutted on the nosing of the stairs so as to continuously form the inclined surface (or slope) on the stairs, wherein the engagement of the fixing tool is released and a shopping cart is carried on the inclined surface.

At first (or in the installed state), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the board 110 is leaned against the sidewall 14 of the stairs 10. Then, the engagement of the fixing tool 140 with the board 110 is released by rotating the engaging plate 143 of the fixing tool 140. At this time, the board 110 can be rotated about the rotation center part 123 of the hinge 120. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 10, the board 110 is placed on the stairs (or on the nosing 13 thereof). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, the board 110 is placed on one side (or the sidewall side) of the stairs 10 in the lateral direction.

Advantages of the Embodiment

The embodiment as mentioned above can have the following advantages.

(1) In the ordinary state, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the board 110 is leaned against the sidewall 14 of the stairs 10 such that the users can walk on the stairs 10 as usual. In the emergency state or using it as the inclined surface (or slope), the board 110 can be placed on one side of the stairs 10 such that the users can easily carry a shopping cart etc. on the inclined surface as compared to carrying it on the stairs 10 without the inclined surface.

(2) The board 110 has the plural holes 110E. Thereby, it can be reduced in weight. Especially since the board 110 is formed of a steel plate, it can be easily handled by being lighter.

(3) The board 110 is constructed such that the hole forming regions 111 with the holes 110E only in the region is not abutted on the nosing 13 of the stairs 10. Thereby, a sufficient bending rigidity can be secured at the nosing 13 of the stairs 10.

(4) The board 110 has the rib portions 110D, 110D which are formed at elongate both ends in the lateral direction by bending. Thereby, it can secure sufficient bending rigidity and strength when being used as the inclined surface (or slope).

Although the invention has been described with respect to the specific embodiments for complete and clear disclosure, the attached claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth. In particular, it should be noted that all of the combinations of features as described in the embodiment and Examples are not always needed to solve the problem of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments and modifications thereof can be included within the scope and gist of the invention and within the invention as recited in the attached claims and the equivalents thereof. 

1. A hinged board for stairs, comprising: an elongate board configured to be abutted and placed on a nosing of the stairs; and a hinge comprising a first hinge plate and a second hinge plate, wherein the first hinge plate is configured to be secured to a sidewall of the stairs, wherein the second hinge plate is configured to be secured to an end portion of the board, wherein the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate are connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other, wherein the board is configured to be securely leaned against the sidewall of the stairs, wherein the board comprises a punched plate with a plurality of holes formed therein, and wherein the punched plate comprises a rectangular hole forming region and a strip-shaped non-hole forming region between adjacent ones of the rectangular hole forming region.
 2. The hinged board for stairs according to claim 1, wherein the board is configured to be placed on one side of the stairs in a lateral direction of the stairs.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The hinged board for stairs according to claim 3, wherein the holes of the punched plate are formed only in a region not contacting with the nosing of the stairs.
 5. The hinged board for stairs according to claim 1, wherein the board is configured to be securely leaned against the sidewall of the stairs by a fixing tool attached to the sidewall.
 6. The hinged board for stairs according to claim 1, wherein the board comprises a rib at both ends in a lateral direction thereof formed by bending.
 7. The hinged board for stairs according to claim 1, wherein the board comprises a tapered portion at both ends in a longitudinal direction thereof.
 8. The hinged board for stairs according to claim 1, wherein the board comprises a flat steel pressed by pressing.
 9. The hinged board for stairs according to claim 3, wherein the holes of the punched plate comprise a through-hole. 